Pembroke (Irish Ferries) or Fishguard (Stena) from Rosslare

inabina

Hi All
Looking to get out in a ferry for a day, it has been so long! So what better way than a return trip in a single day to Fishguard or Pembroke. I will only have an hour or so at the destination but I want to hear what people would recommend in terms of 1) travel experience of Isle of Inishmore with Irish Ferries versus Stena Europe and 2) This might sound funny - but would you rather spend an hour in Fishguard or Pembroke?!! Finally, if I was to stay a night and get a train somewhere, what port is the best for that, and best place to go? Cardiff?

Thanks v much!

Fratton Fred

From what I have seen, Pembroke is a bigger place than Fishguard so for an hour or two might be a better place.

However, I think the Stena ferry is nicer and has a big sun deck.

Fishguard also has a train station with train times to match the Ferry so may be easier to get to Cardiff.

Kotek Besar

For a bargain, use Sail Rail.

http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/fishguard/
http://www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp

inabina

Thanks folks. Anyone been on both ferries recently? How do they compare overall? The Stena one is an older Ferry but good outdoor decks are what I am after!!:

Fratton Fred

inabina wrote: »

Thanks folks. Anyone been on both ferries recently? How do they compare overall? The Stena one is an older Ferry but good outdoor decks are what I am after!!:

I was on the Stena one at Christmas.

It was refurbished last year and has a very nice coffee lounge showing films.

Outside there is a big outside sun deck at the stern which has a coffee shop, although I have never seen it open.

I was last on the Irish ferry this time last year and it looked a bit shabby. Not sure what the outside areas were like, but there is an indoor sun lounge at the rear.

Kotek Besar

If you intend to buy anything onboard (not advisable, €€€), then bare in mind that on Irish Ferries everything is in Euros whereas on Stenaline everything is in Pounds.

I went from Dublin to Holyhead on the Irish Ferries fast ferry (1hr 40min) and it was clean and nice. I've also been on the Stenaline normal ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare and paid an extra €5 to sit in their StenaPlus lounge. This is well worth it because not only does it get you away from the plebs you also get unlimited drinks and snacks, so it's actually more cost effective than sitting with the plebs and buying drinks and snacks from the restaurant.

inabina

great advice about avoiding the "plebs"...pretty critical. Is there access to the outside deck area direct from that lounge or must you pass the "plebs"? And are we talking about free alcohol for the entire journey?? It must get messy enough in that lounge with that free booze!

Kotek Besar

You have to exit the lounge and walk down a short corridor in order to go out on to the desk. Some pleb mixing may occur.

Soft drinks and wine, no beer.

Dublin Sean

Hi all,
I have only been on the stena europe and only been to Fishguard so I would not be able to compare the Isle of Inishmore and Pembroke. Ive sailed into Fishguard a number of times while going to Cardiff for rugby mainly and it seems to be a nice enough place. The town is a good walk from the port but it might be ideal to kill an hour or two. The train station is right at the port and is ideal for direct connections to Cardiff and the rest of south Wales. A train to Cardiff connects with both of Stena Europe's daily sailings into Fishguard. Not sure how frequent the service is into Pembroke though.
I think Fishguard is also quicker from Rosslare taking around three and a half hours while Pembroke is nearer to four hours. There is also free wifi on Stena Europe which is handy aswell. Hope this helps!

PhotoFireAir

I travelled across the Irish sea on Eurolines services several times and have found since they switched from Stenaline to Irish Ferries dissapointing; I expected as much when I used the Dublin Swift and found some staff Manners Apalling this was in the Summer of 2009. Again when I was crossing from Pembroke to Rosslare on a Euroline s Service from London (Ex Pembroke 02:45, 09.11.11) one Female staff member onboard the Isle of Inishmore did not even acknowledge me when I greeted her on the deck above reception. I don't know what Irish ferries criteria is for staff courtesy but is badly in need of improvement.

man98

I was on the Stena Europe 4 times in the last month. It is 30 mins quicker than Pembroke but Fishguard is smaller, I've been on the Isle of Inishmore and it is just as good. The I F boat is bigger though and they cost the exact same.